Yankees defeat Diamondbacks 9-2 as Rice hits 39th homer
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 19, 2026, 4:43 AM
Last updated Sep 19, 2026
The New York Yankees defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks 9-2 in Phoenix on Friday night. Ben Rice contributed significantly with his 39th home run of the season in the Yankees' five-run first inning. Gerrit Cole became the winningest No. 1 overall draft pick, earning his 162nd career win. The Yankees solidified their playoff position and are four games behind the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East with nine games remaining. The Diamondbacks have lost three straight games, complicating their playoff aspirations as they trail the final NL wild card spot by five games.
- •Yankees score five runs in the first inning.
- •Ben Rice hits his 39th home run of the season.
- •Gerrit Cole becomes winningest No. 1 draft pick.
- •Diamondbacks fall five games behind for the final NL wild card spot.
- •Next, the D-backs will start Brandon Pfaadt against Cam Schlittler.
- 4:43 AMYahoo Sports — Ben Rice hits 39th homer, Cole becomes winningest No. 1 draft pick as Yanks cruise past D-backs 9-2
"Ben Rice hit his 39th homer of the season, Gerrit Cole became the winningest No. 1 overall draft pick and the New York Yankees used a five-run first inning to take control early and beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 9-2 on Friday night. After learning three-time AL MVP Aaron Judge was headed back to the injured list with a right calf strain, the Yankees won for the eighth time in 10 games. New York, which has already clinched a playoff spot, is four games behind the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East with nine games remaining.
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